Brent Seabrook offers young Calgary Flames blueliners an invaluable resource
Article content
The young Calgary Flames prospect grew up watching Brent Seabrook back when the longtime Chicago Blackhawks blueliner was one of the NHL's top defencemen.
Article content
Article content
So seeing him at Flames development camp last week was a real 'Welcome to the NHL' moment, especially as it came just a few short days after Phillips had been selected in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Article content
Article content
'I go up to him and go 'What's up Seebs?' and he goes 'What's up big fella?'' Philips said with a big smile. 'It was so cool just to see him, with the history he had in the NHL and just kind of learning from him and getting tips on picking up pucks off walls.'
Article content
Article content
There will be many more conversations between Seabrook and the rest of the Flames' prized defensive prospects in the coming years and they'll probably be a lot more in-depth than saying 'What's up?'
Article content
The 40-year-old was added to the organization's player development staff at the end of June.
Article content
Since retiring in 2021, Seabrook had been working with the WHL's Vancouver Giants, first as an assistant coach and then as a development coach. He was also part of Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence management group for the under-20 team.
Article content
That will all help, but make no mistake, Seabrook's wealth of experience as a top-pairing NHL defenceman is a big part of the appeal for a Flames team that has a couple high-end blueline prospects — most notably Zayne Parekh, Hunter Brzustewicz, Etienne Morin and Phillips — coming up.
Article content
Article content
'When you speak to him, he thinks it differently, you know?' Flames GM Craig Conroy said. 'I'm a forward, I played centre, so I think the game one way. But when you hear him talking about stick position, feet position, how you defend your gaps, I'm like 'Really, all that?'
Article content
'And he's so passionate about it. He wants to help the young guys. He wants to help the Calgary Flames get better. Like he said to me, 'I've been fortunate to win Stanley Cups. I'd love to win one with the Calgary Flames, too.' He's really excited and ready to go.'
Article content
Experience alone should make Seabrook a valuable part of the Flames development team. We're talking about a guy who played in 1,114 NHL games, won three Stanley Cups and an Olympic gold medal.
Article content
If you're a guy like Parekh, who is at the start of his journey going from a superstar in junior to a guy who is trying to establish himself in the NHL, having someone like Seabrook around is only going to help.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
American sprinter Fred Kerley provisionally suspended for anti-doping ‘whereabouts failures'
MONACO (AP) — U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley has been provisionally suspended for 'whereabouts failures' under the sport's anti-doping rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit said Tuesday. Lawyers for the 30-year-old Kerley hit back in a statement posted on the athlete's account on X.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
American sprinter Fred Kerley provisionally suspended for anti-doping ‘whereabouts failures'
MONACO (AP) — U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley has been provisionally suspended for 'whereabouts failures' under the sport's anti-doping rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit said Tuesday. Lawyers for the 30-year-old Kerley hit back in a statement posted on the athlete's account on X. 'Fred Kerley has already notified the AIU that he intends to contest the allegation that he has violated the anti-doping rules related to whereabouts failures, as he strongly believes that one of (or) more of his alleged missed tests should be set aside either because he was not negligent or because the Doping Control Officer did not do what was reasonable under the circumstances to locate him at his designated location,' the statement said. It added: 'Fred will not comment further at this time out of respect for the process, and looks forward to presenting his case to the appointed hearing panel.' Kerley won the Olympic silver medal in the 100 meters at the Tokyo Games and the bronze in Paris last year. He has also earned six medals at the track and field world championships. 'You can try to break me in the storm, but all you're doing is giving me a better story at the finish line,' Kerley later posted on the same account. In May, Kerley was charged in Florida with punching a woman, a hurdler who also competed in the Olympics. That came just a few months after he was arrested for allegedly punching a Miami Beach police officer on Jan. 2, an incident in which police used a Taser on him. His lawyers say Kerley is innocent of those charges. ___ AP sports:
Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Baltimore Ravens swim with Michael Phelps, get lessons from the Olympic champion
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens got their chance to swim with Michael Phelps. A couple of weeks after players shot video asking the 23-time Olympic champion — and Baltimore native — for swimming lessons, Phelps showed up at practice Tuesday. Then the team posted video of players swimming and diving — or at least leaping off diving boards — at nearby Loyola University. In one video posted by a reporter for the team's website, Phelps let everyone else have a significant head start before diving in and racing them. At least some of them did beat him to the end. Phelps also toured the smaller pools at the Ravens' facility, and he spoke to the team on the practice field along with former Ravens star Ray Lewis. 'I'm not going to say I'm a big swimming fan, but I know Michael Phelps,' defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. 'I think it was neat having him and Ray come talk to us, because the message was the same. That's one thing you notice when you listen to the greats. When you study the greats, you wonder, 'How do they do such great things in the highest tense moments?' And it all leads back to the work that nobody sees, and that's what Michael Phelps talked about. Ray talked about preparation. Michael Phelps talked about preparation as well.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NFL:
